William Joseph Stirling of Keir

SAS Rogue Heroes, The Authorized War Time History, From the Secret SAS Archives by Ben MACINTYRE. Viking an imprint of Penguin Books. 2016. ISBN: 978-0-241-18663-3

Page 214 - 215

When Bill STIRLING discovered that the high command intended to drop SAS units thirty-six hours ahead of the main invasion, to act as a barrier of shock troops between the fighting front and the German reserves, he hit the roof: the SAS would be placed in maximum danger for minimal strategic advantage. Most SAS officers

agreed, believing that the regiment should operate behind the front lines, not on them.

Bill STIRLING penned a blistering letter to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), explaining exactly how stupid this idea was (among the traits shared by the StIRLING brothers was a talent for extreme epistolary rudeness). Refusing to retract his criticisms, he resigned, to be replaced as commander of 2SAS by his deputy Major Brian FRANKS. David STIRLING believed that his brother had saved the SAS : 'He lost his battle, but the regiment won theirs.' It had been a brave act, supported by many of the men, but it signalled the end of the STIRLING brothers' leadership of the SAS.

Like many dramatic gestures, Bill STIRLING's resignation proved premature, since his concerns were eventually given due consideration: the plan for deployment of the SAS was amended to something far closer to the role envisaged by the STIRLING brothers. Only five three-man teams would be dropped immediately beyond the Normandy beaches on the eve of D-Day, to sow confusion by imitating a much larger paratroop force - an operation codenamed Titanic.

Added by Y. DROST, 21 APR 2018

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------